Whoopi Goldberg: "We Have Finally Become Part of the Fabric of the United States of America"

Whoopi Goldberg reacted to the election news at wowOwow:

A moment about history.

Tonight as I watched the numbers come in, I was cautiously optimistic that there would be a big change -- but I wasn't fully convinced. And then I called my mom, and the numbers kept changing and moving forward, and I said to her, "Ma, did you ever in your life think you would see this day?" And she said emphatically, "No. I never thought I'd live to see this day." And it surprised me because my mom is the most optimistic person that I know and it never occurred to me that this was something she was hoping for. Not just because it was a black candidate, but because it meant that anything was again possible in the United States of America.

I'm being black about his, I'm celebrating in my heart and I have screamed out of my window. I realized that for probably the first time in my life, in thinking about myself as an American, it occurred to me that this is really our arrival in the country that said everything was possible. We have finally become part of the fabric of the United States of America. This is just strictly speaking as a black person. It would be very difficult not to talk about the thrill of that part of it because 160 years have gone by and we have finally come to the place where we are ready for leaders and ready to look at leaders as men and women and perhaps not by their color. But it is the first time it has happened so folks should not be surprised that black folks are really, really happy about this.

Read Whoopi's full article here

-OR-

Read more Election Reaction here

Comments

[llisa]

Hey, Whoopie, thinking white folks are very, very happy about this, too!

[born68]

You can't please everyone, yet you still can rejoice with those that wish to celebrate with you. I know some avid Republicans that were proud they voted for McCain and yet they still celebrated with me. Despite their disappointment, they could not help but enjoy and feel the excitement of the moment.

[freshnotbitter]

The first African American landed at Jamestonw around 1623.

I did not want 400 years to pass without an AFrican American being elected President just because his skin was considered too dark.

That would have been a terrible disgrace.


Our generation has redeemed all the jerks who came before us. I congratulate myself.

[TommyJohn]

Oh, please, you hve had it so tough, getting paid $15 million/yr for The Hollywood Squares, alone.

[NewtonSylmar]

You make it sound like she was born with $15 million. All you've seen is the end game...don't hate her for working hard and surviving adversity with a positive outcome.

[pons1595]

How dare you make a judgment on something you know nothing about; the quality of life is not solely a result of money as its only metric, you numskull.

[TommyJohn]

You are just a hateful loser,pons.

[born68]

I have always considered myself and all African Americans as part of the fabric of America and anyyone that comes here to live out their American dream adds another indestructable stitch. I thought that most Americans felt that we were the stain on the fabric while I believed that we were the strong (most durable) and the colorful (comforting) material.

The United States of America's fabric is as strong and as beautiful as its populace.

[mmgbizgirl]

Love your post. I agree. We have always been one of the strongest threads in the American fabric even though it has not largely been acknowledged.

Here is my tribute to the President and his family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5QigRkg9G8

Enjoy!

[meredith465]

As a white Obama supporter, I agree with Whoopi. Everyone has a right to be proud of Obama's victory, but to pretend that this isn't so important for African Americans specifically is to not understand how large race still looms over America. When I think of the prison industrial class and the pop culture vilification of African American men, and then I see this talented, articulate, and strong bi-racial man stand up and lead the nation, I cannot imagine a better representation to motivate young people that hard work and an education can lead to better things regardless of race. How great to have a "melting pot President" who has in his identity white, black, American, Indonesian, Christian and Muslim contact points!

When segregation was overthrown, the entire nation had a right to rejoice, but the victory for African American communities was extra personal. I can fight racism, but odds are I will not be on the receiving end of it as often as a non-white person. I say we acknowledge the personal and historical triumphs of African Americans in our country. Maybe someday we will think nothing of having a President who is Latino, female, Asian, Muslim, or Jewish, but those days have not come yet. Until they do, let's celebrate the fact that our President is more reflective of our nation's ideals, hopes, history, and demographics and that 'white and male' will no longer single-handedly define America.

[ImpalaSuperSport]

Well there will be no more 'sticking it to the man' anymore, darn.

[sueno]

As an African-American, I can't explain how happy i feel-
I'm with Whoopi, YES, WE CAN, Yes, we did
and Its a great day and time for us all.
But, Obama was put in office by us all!
Every color and community helped put him in office
we finally have a president, put in office by people of all hues and backgrounds
Its a new day, new era and lastly, we should be proud of each other
and what was accomplished- peace and love to all.

[vandegrasse]

And now you're fully accountable. No more excuses. And by the way, I voted for Obama and I'm white. Just stating a fact.

[BlackWidowPilot]

"Excuses?" Institutionalized racism and the policies thereof are not excuses, "vandergrasse," but vicious, ugly reality for far too many of our fellow Americans for far too many generations. The election of Barrack Obama has shattered a barrier long overdue to be brought down, much like the Berlin Wall; we can now move into the 21st Century IMHO.

"Fully accountable?" Yes indeed, let us hold those responsible for the past eight years from Hell under the Busheviks *fully accountable.*

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[MadeinAmericaProud]

"No more excuses." Was this the reason you voted for Obama?

Perhaps the vote was for the black man to fail because the " I'm white " kind of people with the mind set black people give excuses for not working or making something of themselves.(as if black people years ago designed and opened welfare offices for a hand out all by themselves using taxpayers money).

What excuses white people use now for not working? Just maybe, it is the same reason black people are not working. We voted our jobs to other countries.

[NewtonSylmar]

Just for the record, we were ALWAYS fully accountable. Some of us chose the wrong path, but enough of us chose the right one. Those of us who did weren't looking for a handout, weren't looking for an advantage...all we wanted was an even playing field. But, there were those among you for which that wasn't good enough, because your interpretation was that if "those people" could achieve what you could achieve, then you could end up losing what little you thought you had. That picture wasn't an easy one to swallow. So, we had to achieve twice as much to get half as much. As a point of fact, I conduct my best business over the phone and the Internet, because my work record, credit history and bank balance speak quite loudly, as long as no one sees me in person. Definitely not today, but maybe in 10 years, I can walk into a bank and be treated with the respect I have earned.

[valkyrie607]

Fully accountable??

For how many centuries have white people held black people accountable for not only their own, but white people's f--k-ups as well?

As in, "Sorry we redlined your neighborhoods for years, making it impossible for you to own your own home or business, but now that we've made it technically illegal (and discounting the fact that the practice continues, unofficially), you're now on your own! No excuses, especially not if those excuses have something to do with us doing anything unethical or illegal to try to extend preferential treatment to white people and discriminate against dark-skinned people. You're now accountable for fixing up your neighborhood AND healing from economic wounds inflicted by us."

Hey, it's awesome that you voted Obama. Now we have the opportunity to have these kinds of conversations. Your comment reveals a lot of negative stereotypes of black people. A lot of false beliefs. Here's your chance to change.

[BlessAmerica]

Just like the OJ thing....

[BlackWidowPilot]

This is you first comment here on HuffPost I see. Interesting. Care to elaborate, citizen?

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[BlackWidowPilot]

Ms. Goldberg, you have always been a part of the fabric of America! It's just that We The People have made it *official* in a manner no-one dare dispute ever again...

This is a victory for all of us!

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[sueno]

Beautiful words, thanks

[MadeinAmericaProud]

I admire what you have said about miss goldberg being a part of the fabric of America.

I would say we all are a fabric of america, but some of the fabrics were used for rugs only. These rug fabrics were never considered as a suitable fabric for other use.

Over 160 years since a man could vote for another man we are now voting a first in 2008 even Africa is ahead of America.

The ghetto rug fabrics were used to create upper class jobs for, police, lawyers,judges and all other crime related jobs the upper and middle class jobs for years.

Take a look at the private prisons. There are over 1 million black men that have created jobs for others. In the future that will be 1 million less vote to worry about.

[mmgbizgirl]

Thank you Whoopi.

Here is my souvenir tribute to the President Elect and family.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5QigRkg9G8

Enjoy!

[AZTrueBlue]

Whoppie, you deserve to celebrate...this same vindictive Republican group practically destroyed you!
Enjoy your time in history!

[matilda3663]

...whoopi,i agree and i feel with you!!!
...i'm f......HAPPY!!!!
....i was waiting my whole life ,for this change!!!!
...and it's happend...unbelievable...last night i was cry ,..today i'm all day happy,..and all the people around me,also!!!!
..life is back!!!

m.

[thankulord13]

Tell it Whoopi!

[Swerinjer2]

This does NOT mean you get to play rap music louder. Just an FYI.

[strawberryjulius]

That's a stereotype if I ever heard one.

[thankulord13]

What! I thought we can also paint the White House black and throw bar b ques every other weekend!

[BlackWidowPilot]

May I help? I *like* a good BBQ.... be a decidedly marked improvement over the fare served up to We The People these past eight years from Hell under the Busheviks.

Pass the sauce.

Leland R. Erickson

Citizen

[Olav-NL]

Hmm, chicken ;-)

[ladyfractal]

And you think that blacks only listen to rap why? When Obama went over the top, I put on Handel's Hallelujah chorus. What did YOU play?

Cheers
LF

[MrT3]

who do you think buys the majority of rap albums??...i'll give you a hint....they don't look like barack obama....

[nippyfan]

Rap couldn't make it without the support of the offspring of white suburban kids. :-)

[valkyrie607]

The hell it doesn't.